(CARMEL) - Carmel city employees are under orders not to leave their cars idling.

Mayor Jim Brainard says if every city vehicle can eliminate 10 minutes of idling a day, the city would save $100,000 dollars a year, and reduce emissions that contribute to smog.

Brainard says the region is already on the brink of federal penalties over its air quality. An executive order Brainard signed Tuesday exempts police and fire runs. Department heads are responsible for enforcing the ban.

Brainard says there's no way to know whether the 10-minute-a-day target is realistic. But he says there's clearly some idling that can be eliminated. And he says the order is a way to set an example for residents to follow in their own cars.